Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:24 (emphasis added)

We were meant to rule. Given dominion by Adonai (Genesis 1:26-28). We were meant to be the head, not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). But only those who are diligent have a chance to achieve it. First, we need to be diligent about seeking and staying in Jesus-abiding in Him. Second, we need to be diligent about applying what the Word tells us. If we don’t, we will be in the same boat as the world. Slaves to toil. Struggle. Useless effort for lacklustre results. The diligent avoid this, but only the consistently diligent. Those who are diligent in their diligence.

Diligence is careful and persistent application of effort. A characteristic of it is industriousness. “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”” (Genesis 1:28). ‘Be fruitful’ means (among other things) ‘be industrious’. “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it” (Genesis 2:15). Toil (slow painful progress, laborious work, drudgery) is part of the curse. Work is an Elohim-given assignment in which we are meant to prosper, succeed, and be obedient. Through the cross Jesus broke the altar of toil by renewing to us the productivity Adonai placed in us (pierced hands). Jesus enabled us to succeed, to prosper, and to reclaim the possessions Adonai says are ours (pierced feet). But to succeed, we need diligence as a characteristic. Consistency is the key to diligence. It doesn’t matter if you excel from time to time. You have to be consistent. Tomatoes that are given uneven watering split open. They can handle water. But when they suddenly get more water than they are used to, they grow too fast and split. Loss of quality. Loss of taste. It’s a bad thing. They’re still edible and usable, but they are nowhere near to what they could be. Spiritually, endeavour not to be a split tomato. Be consistent. Be diligent in your consistency.

“With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Diligence doesn’t happen by accident. And it isn’t something our flesh enjoys. That is made worse in modern times with the severe message from the world that relaxation is the key to life. Friday night party. Saturday fun times. Sunday lie ins. Vacations. Retirement. So many things in our culture are geared toward kicking back, relaxing, and enjoying some idleness. Adonai doesn’t see idleness the same way we do. It isn’t forbidden (sabbath is a rest in Him, after all), but too much? Definitely not good for us (Proverbs 21:25; Ecclesiastes 10:18; Ezekiel 16:49-50). We need to be alert or we will stop our diligent praying. Look at Gethsemane. Jesus asked three of them to pray with/for Him, but they did not stay alert against anti-diligence and fell asleep. Several times (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42). Praying without ceasing isn’t on your knees all the time, but keeping a running mental and/or heart dialogue where you are checking in with Adonai. Where you are listening to Him and applying what you hear. Where you are mixing your trust in what Adonai says with His Word that says it. When we take our effort out of that, we are MUCH more likely to stray in our thinking, in our words, and in our actions. We’re much more likely to decide to do something based on OUR thinking, instead of HIS. Never a good idea. When we start working on our own–outside of trust in Jesus–then we are choosing NOT to trust Jesus. Which is sin (Romans 14:23). Not a popular idea, but it is true. In fact, Ruach HaKodesh convicts believers of a single thing: not trusting Jesus in any given situation. Instead of avoiding this truth, we need to be alert in our diligence. Of course, we have a MERCIFUL God who made a way in case we don’t.

“So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness” (James 5:16). The ESV has the end of the verse as “The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much” or the DILIGENT prayer accomplishes much. When we miss it, when we fall, we are to get up ASAP in order to apply effort to change. Not just to change behaviour, but to change the mindset that decided the behaviour was acceptable. Changing our mindset to agree with Adonai’s mindset. Acknowledging that He is correct, His point of view is correct, and His morals are correct in spite of anything we as humans may think, feel, or ‘know’. That’s repentance. Turning around and heading toward where Adonai says we should be on any given issue. That takes effort. Consistent effort or you’ll end up back where you started. Like water which heads to the lowest point, our flesh heads to the easiest point–which is always away from Adonai. The things of Adonai are simple, but not easy because of our flesh which bucks against them. Once we’re perfected in heaven things will be easy as well as simple. Until then, we need to apply effort and apply it consistently. Another good picture of this was from Jerry Savelle who had an illustration about a life of trust in Jesus: it’s like going upstream in a canoe. If you aren’t diligent in your striving, you’ll end up turned away from Adonai and going the same way as the world.

“constantly pray” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This is how we keep from going the same way as the world does. We are supposed to be distinct and different. It’s foundational to being renewed into Jesus’ resurrection. It’s a major part of who we are on Him. “Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil” (Ezekiel 22:5). It is so obvious that the Children of Yahweh should be different that even the unrighteous recognise it. They may dislike the message we relay, but they despise and lose all respect for us when we try to ‘fit in’ by acting like them. That is NOT diligence in our walk. We are to be light to the darkness. Not slightly less darkness. We accomplish this ONLY by being diligent in our submission to Adonai. We accomplish THAT only by being consistent in our prayer, which is the vehicle for our thanksgiving, praise, repentance, worship, and listening to Him. A life founded on effective prayer will be a life that produces. A life that is fruitful. A life that is diligent not ONLY in prayer but ALSO in righteous action. Not OUR righteousness, but His in us. “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). We remember this much better when we are diligent in our prayer life.

“Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this way too your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me” (Ezekiel 20:27). Actions, not just words, blaspheme Adonai. We need to be watching our words AND our deeds with consistency. Consistency is one of the keys to enjoying a breakthrough with Adonai. In James 4:7 we’re told to submit and stand and the devil will flee from us. We aren’t told to stop standing. We’re not told to stand if it works. We’re not told to stand unless the devil puts up a fight. Because he’ll do that. The devil isn’t the personification of evil–that’s sin. The devil is a personality. Nothing more. We need to stand with consistency or that personality will devour us. Diligence in standing unlocks even a heathen heart. There is a respect they grant to those who are diligent even when they violently disagree with them. Something about diligence brings out our respect. Diligence is one of the hidden characteristics of good humans and it is nearly universally acknowledged. Which is also why it is extremely important in our relationships. They make easier targets than our relationship with Adonai. If the enemy can poison your close relationships, you’ll be more likely to drop your alertness and take your eyes off Adonai.

Marriage is one of the simpler things in my life. I find it very easy, BUT only because of a single principle that I apply every SINGLE day. I remember I made a choice. I chose to love this person. There are stretches of time that I think it would be good if we BOTH remember, so I will send a single text about something I love about them. Every day. One text. One thing. The things stack up. I try never to repeat them. Mostly I think I succeed. On the weeks I am doing that, there is more feeling of love between us. There are times I am giddy and I feel my breath suddenly leave my body-just because they came into the room. It is NOT easy when I don’t remember it is a choice. There were times in years past when it seemed to be a struggle to connect. But when I started to apply the principle of remembrance, it became easy. This isn’t to say that we always agree, but we don’t really fight. We’ve argued, but we rarely have a fight. The arguments are differences of opinion backed up by different facts and not endless arguing. It is because of remembrance. We remember we chose to love. Since we chose it, there is no need to rely on a feeling to maintain it. Feelings don’t rule the roost in our relationship. There is emotion, there is passion, but the basis is not a feeling. It is a choice made possible because of Adonai. Our covenant is based in and on Him in every way.

We learned the Remembrance Principle from Jesus. “Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”” (Luke 22:19). We need to DAILY remember what Jesus has done for us and WHY we love Him. Remembering a single thing every SINGLE day really helps to deepen our relationship with Adonai. If you look at the nation of Israel in Kings, Chronicles, and especially in the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel) you will often see the charge that the wayward Jews had FORGOTTEN what Adonai had done. We NEED to be diligent in our remembrance. With Adonai. With our spouses. With everyone in our lives. When we FORGET, that’s when our eyes wander. Wandering eyes are a recipe for disaster because our thoughts follow our eyes and our thoughts birth the temptations that try to ensnare us. You can’t be tempted by what you haven’t considered. Is the answer a militant discipline of where your eyes are? Rolling them away from all temptations? No! You’ll get dizzy! Instead, diligent prayer. Instead of looking away from an enticing member of the opposite sex, ask Jesus what HE sees. Start looking at the PEOPLE instead of their bodies or their outfits. Asking Jesus about the item in the store, instead of getting greedy or jealous. Consistent, diligent prayer instead of roving eyes, roving thoughts, and idle words.

We can build intimacy by diligent remembrance of one another. Again and again and again acknowledging our love. Not letting conflict cause problems. Not letting comments get between us. Focusing on what we chose. Focusing on who we are. Focusing on who we are IN JESUS, who HE is, and what the Father has planned for us, our relationship, and our fellowship with Him. Remembrance. Daily remembrance. It makes ALL the difference in the world. Repetitive asking which comes from a place of truth makes all the difference. In other words, you’re not nagging from greed. Or from impatience. You are stating facts that are objectively true and requesting that the other party acknowledge it too. Not meanly or spitefully. Not throwing anything up in anyone’s face. But kindly. Gently. Stating truth and building on it with more truth. That’s how you get through long-term marriage without strife, struggle, and hard work being the major factors of your relationship. It isn’t as though every day is peachy keen and twice as smooth. It is that you CAN and SHOULD take everything to Jesus with diligence. As soon as you can. Take Communion on it. Pray on it. Listen about it. Don’t be slack. You don’t need a break. This is praise and glory to the Father every day over every thing.

“Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people, yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them? I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”” (Luke 18:1-8).

Whether we are standing on the healing we believe we received, whether we are standing on the Word against the devil, whether we are building a relationship of love through remembrance, or whether we are living out the principles we read in the Word, it is DILIGENCE that we need to succeed. Jesus had it. He wasn’t slack. He didn’t ask for days off. He went where the Father wanted him wherever it took HIm at whatever cost. We’re to be the same. Diligent in our diligence to keep it up. Keep standing. Keep paddling up that river. Keep on keeping on. It is the consistency of our diligence that will prove to our flesh that this is real, this IS God, and we are going to be okay as long as we are with Him. It is one of the foundations of a victorious life and should NOT be underestimated. Today I choose…. Be diligent in the application of your praise as well as in answering the question. Be an overcomer in Jesus.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Isaiah 53:2

“He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him.” Messiah would have the appearance of an ordinary man. Glory would not shine from His eyes (on a regular basis anyway – Matt 17.1-9 Mark 9.2-9 Luke 9.28-36). Messiah would be a man. Eating, drinking, walking, talking, and in every way just as the rest of us are. “but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8). Jesus walked like us. Talked like us. Ate like us. Went to the bathroom like us. Was a drooling baby like us. Jesus was ordinary. He was extraordinary in His ordinariness. He shared our nature. He humbled Himself lower than His natural and rightful state. Jesus IS Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b